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Best low profile iPhone 5 case?

C

Captainobvvious

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 15, 2010
366
2
I am looking for a case with an eye toward protection from scratches from normal wear and tear. I am not concerned with damage from drops and am not looking for Otterbox style protection.

So I'm looking for a case that is as low profile as possible. I have heard good things about the Case-mate Barely There but I hear the new iPhone 5 case is as thick as the iPhone 4/4S case making the raised lip to protect the screen bigger.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Scratch protection is paramount as I'm looking at resale value but also quality too because with some cheap cases dirt and dust can find its way into the case and cause worse scratches than if it weren't in a case.
 
For the time being I picked up a very slim and sleek Rocketfish hard case from Best Buy. I may end up just keeping it rather than get another. Rocket fish is a Best Buy store brand.
 
I picked up the clear Rocketfish soft case from BB. Never been a fan of Rocketfish as they usually have their name plastered all over it but this one is plain, not bulky and you can see the iPhone through it. Power Support will be making the best case for this device (IMO) but it's not avail until late Oct. I am using this one until then. I picked up an OtterBox Commuter for it and it was way too bulky.
 
incipio frequency is what i am rocking. I dont think it gets much better for an easy to find off the shelf unit
 
incase Slider

I was definitely a fan of the low-profile feather initially. However I found it didn't quite hold up and left the front of the phone vulnerable. I got an incase slider for the 4 and loved it, slightly bigger than the feather but worth the added protection. Looking at preordering the new slider for the iphone 5 as I'm typing this.

http://goincase.com/products/detail/slider-case-cl69035
 
I've ordered a few from Amazon to try out. These are the slimmest I could find (at least until the Desmay Slight 5 comes out).

1. Apple iPhone 5 Ringke SLIM Soft Feeling Premium Hard Case : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...SIN=B00993E8B6&linkCode=as2&tag=6458422537-20

2. Anker Glaze Case for iPhone 5: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...SIN=B008WXM43S&linkCode=as2&tag=6458422537-20

3. Photive Natural Slim Fit Case for Apple iPhone 5: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...SIN=B0097BZNPK&linkCode=as2&tag=6458422537-20

4. AViiQ Thin Series iPhone 5 Case (sold out :(): http://www.aviiq.com/collections/iphone/products/thin-series-iphone-5-case

5. Slim Hard Plastic Snap-On Matte Back Case for new iPhone5 5TH GEN (this one is the closest I could find to the Desmay Slight): http://www.ebay.com/itm/230851440663

--

First impressions:

1. Not bad, not as thin as the Desmay Slight (the iPhone 4S version). This one's a "soft finish" or rubbery feel. There's also a non-rubbery one.

2. Meh. TPU case paired with a plastic bumper. I wouldn't consider this one slim at all.

3. I like. Reminds me of the Case-Mate Barely There series.

4. [sold out]

5. The closest I could get to an official Desmay Slight. This very well might be what Desmay will release.
 
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Just ordered one of those slim cases from hong kong. I plan on getting a desmay slight 5 this weekend, but for $4 this will be a good back up.
 
Incase Snap Case and Incipio Feather are among the best minimalistic cases you can get that adds minimal bulk.
 
Spigen SGP Ultra Thin Air Series

Seriously OP, you cannot go wrong with the Spigen SGP Ultra Thin Air + Glas.t screen protector. It's not bulky and I have been using both for about 4 days now. They are really something else.

P.S. I have been shopping with Spigen for my iPad, iPhone 4, and now the iPhone 5 for over 2 years. They are very reliable, and trusted company. They once set me the wrong product for my iPhone 4 (wrong case), but let me keep it and sent the right case at no extra cost via priority mail.

http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/apple-iphone/iphone-5/iphone-5-case-ultra-thin-air-series.html

-Sputnek
 
I've read reviews that the front of the SGP ultra thin air doesn't have any sort of lip and that it sits flush with the front glass, so offering no protection if it gets dropped or if you lay your phone face down on the table for whatever reason.
 
Sputnek said:
Seriously OP, you cannot go wrong with the Spigen SGP Ultra Thin Air + Glas.t screen protector. It's not bulky and I have been using both for about 4 days now. They are really something else.

P.S. I have been shopping with Spigen for my iPad, iPhone 4, and now the iPhone 5 for over 2 years. They are very reliable, and trusted company. They once set me the wrong product for my iPhone 4 (wrong case), but let me keep it and sent the right case at no extra cost via priority mail.

http://www.spigen.com/cell-phone/apple-iphone/iphone-5/iphone-5-case-ultra-thin-air-series.html

-Sputnek
Click to expand...

Do these polycarbonate type cases not scratch your iPhone though? I heard from many people it scratched their iPhone 4 and I don't want that happening to the 5's anodized layer.
 
got this weird case from my local verizon store last night for $25. I LOVE it. It's the thinnest case I've ever seen that still comes above the screen so if you drop it on it's face it shouldn't hit the ground. It BARELY comes above the screen but it does just enough. i can't find a pic of it for the iphone 5 online though.

The back is a blue mirror, plastic though. Shows fingerprints but other than that its a good case. It says iwalk on the back and "smart unleashed" on the side.

Here it is for the 4.
456245532_717.jpg
 
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